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Thursday, July 05, 2012

Huge Seizure of Counterfeit Cell Phones at JFK Airport

Jamaica, N.Y. – An inspection by CBP
officers at New York’s JFK International Airport in January, led to an
investigation that resulted in the arrest of three men and the seizure of
nearly $2 million in counterfeit cell phones.

The investigation, dubbed “Operation:
Long Distance Haul” was initiated after the officers discovered a shipment of
cell phones shipped loose in cardboard boxes with no packaging. Officers
suspected they might be counterfeit. Samples were sent to the actual
manufacturers including Motorola, HTC and Casio who confirmed they were not
authentic.

Agents from Homeland Security
Investigations partnered with detectives from the Nassau County Police
Department and conducted surveillance on two warehouses used to process the
fake phones. Warrants were issued and 32,000 counterfeit phones were discovered
in two locations. Safety deposit boxes containing nearly $500,000 were also
seized.

“The men and women of CBP protect our
nation’s economy, the safety of its people, and our national security against
the harm of counterfeit and pirated goods. We are very proud to have partnered
with HSI and the Nassau County Police Department to detect and seize these
counterfeit cell phones, leading to the apprehension of these conspirators,”
said Mr. Robert E. Perez, Director, Field Operations New York.

All three men are being charged with
Trademark Counterfeiting in the Second Degree and all the defendants face four
years in prison, if convicted. The case will be prosecuted by the Office of the
District Attorney, Nassau County.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is
the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged
with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and
between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and
terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.